Label	Element	Value
Trade Names [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	$ 5,100,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	5,100,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	255,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	255,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	$ 255,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	20 years
Contractual Rights [Member] | Cleco Katrina/Rita [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	$ 176,000,000
Transmission Service Agreement [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	85,104,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	184,004,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Residual Value	us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetResidualValue	0
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	10,757,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	9,680,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	24,273,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles	$ 98,900,000
Transmission Service Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	3 years
Transmission Service Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	15 years
Right To Bill And Collect Storm Recovery Charges From Customers [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Of Liabilities, Gross	cnl_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNetOfLiabilitiesGross	$ 177,537,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Of Liabilities, Gross	cnl_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNetOfLiabilitiesGross	177,537,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net of Liabilities, Net	cnl_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNetofLiabilitiesNet	21,093,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net of Liabilities, Net	cnl_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNetofLiabilitiesNet	517,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	16,772,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	20,608,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	20,576,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets And Liabilities, Accumulated Amortization	cnl_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAndLiabilitiesAccumulatedAmortization	156,444,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets And Liabilities, Accumulated Amortization	cnl_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAndLiabilitiesAccumulatedAmortization	177,020,000
Right To Bill And Collect Storm Recovery Charges From Customers [Member] | Cleco Katrina/Rita [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	177,500,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	70,594,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	70,594,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Residual Value	us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetResidualValue	0
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	16,772,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	20,608,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	20,576,000
Financing costs [Member] | Cleco Katrina/Rita [Member]
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	$ 1,500,000